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VARIABLE PLASMA IGNITER OUTPUT FOR TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION OF AMMUNITION PERFORMANCE Chris van Driel, André Schilt, Marcel Simor (TNO – The Netherlands) Paul Schaffers, Thomas Weise (Rheinmetall Waffe Munition – Germany)
Contact: [email protected]
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Overview
Introduction Boundary conditions Temperature compensation Experimental Conclusions
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Introduction
Previous work Plasma ignition (exploding wire, external igniter) Experimental facilities: closed bomb, gun simulator
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Introduction
Previous work Plasma ignition (exploding wire, external igniter) Experimental facilities: closed bomb, gun simulator
Project aims current project To enable a practical design of a plasma igniter and the integration inside the cartridge (medium caliber) To support the potential for better ignition (reduced spread, good ignition of LOVA) for that design To prove the potential for compensation of temperature dependencies To achieve an energy consumption <10 kJ per shot
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Boundary conditions
Focus on 35mm Bushmaster III Reference ammunition: TP, FAPDS, etc.
DM144 igniter Dimensions chamber volume, igniter, etc. Equal or better performance Temperature independent
Integration in cartridge
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Compensation of temperature effects: adjustment of igniter output
Igniter concepts Temperature compensation by plasma ignition
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Experiments
Gun simulator
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Experiments
Gun simulator vs. closed bomb
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Experiments Propellants
B6320 NC-Camphor-based Single perforated Manufacturer: NCW Applied as a series propellant in 35mm x 228 DM31
NL008 RDX-CAB-NC-based 19-perforated Manufacturer: Eurenco Applied in plasma ignition studies QinetiQ
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Experiments Atmospheric tests
4 kV 733 µH
2 kV 733 µH
1 kV 733 µH
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Experiments Closed bomb – plasma ignition
Loading density 0.2 g/cc Ignition delay time decreases with increasing electric energy
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Experiments Closed bomb – plasma ignition
Ignition delay time decreases with increasing electric energy High reproducibility improved hit accuracy
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Experiments Closed bomb – plasma ignition
Conventional propellant: temperature independent behaviour achievable by variation of electrical energy LOVA propellant shows elevated vivacity at low pressures
No linear burning rate for LOVA propellant
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Experiments Closed bomb – plasma ignition
Conventional propellant: temperature independent behaviour achievable by variation of electrical energy
r(200 MPa) from closed bomb tests 0 kJ from conventional ignition
Combustion rate is adjustable Burning rate at 50 C achievable at 21 C supplying electrical energy up to 5 kJ
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Experiments Gun simulator – conventional ignition
Reference behaviour of conventional DM144 igniter Loading density 0.8 g/cc Reproducible Variation ignition delay
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Experiments Gun simulator – conventional ignition
Reference behaviour of conventional DM144 igniter Loading density 0.8 g/cc Single test Extremely long ignition delay NL008 not compatible with DM144
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Experiments Plasma ignition – gun simulator
Depending on electrical energy:
Initial pressure Rate of pressure rise after ignition
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Experiments Plasma ignition – gun simulator
Depending on electrical energy:
Initial pressure Rate of pressure rise after ignition
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Conclusions
Practical design Integrated in cartridge base Simple design, robust, cheap Volume < 1/10 DM144 igniter
Performance for LOVA and conventional propellant Ignition delay reduced to < 5 ms Variation delay < 0.2 ms Ignition behaviour sensitive to variation of electrical energy input Energy use < 4 kJ Variation of electrical energy input (2 – 4 kJ) gives temperature neutral behaviour
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Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the Netherlands Ministry of Defence for funding this investigation